Comprehensive Assessment of Didactic Curriculum and Career Interest in Infectious Diseases Among Graduating United States Pharmacy Students

BACKGROUND: The growing need for clinicians with antimicrobial stewardship (AS) skills has resulted in an examination of educational methods for pharmacy and medical learners. This study explores characteristics associated with student assessment of didactic infectious diseases (ID) education quality and variables associated with a career interest in ID and/or AS. METHODS: Infectious diseases faculty from US pharmacy schools were sent a 15-question survey in September 2017. Faculty members e-mailed the survey link to graduating pharmacy students. RESULTS: Participants from 29 pharmacy schools, representing 21 states, resulted in 537 student responses. Quality of ID didactic education was rated as Very Good by 41%, Good by 40%, Acceptable by 14%, and Poor by 4% of participants. The mean number of faculty-provided learning resources differed by quality rating and was significantly associated with perceived educational needs. Infectious diseases was identified as a career interest by 29% of students. These students more frequently rated their ID didactic education as Very Good (52% vs 37%, P < .01) and were more likely to become interested in ID during or after it was taught in pharmacy school (39% vs 21%, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of graduating pharmacy students, the perceived quality of didactic ID education was associated with a career interest in ID and/or AS. Factors associated with quality of education were quantity and quality of faculty-provided resources. Increasing the quality of the didactic ID curriculum has potential to increase interest in ID/AS careers among pharmacy students.